Tuesday, July 31, 2012

The finalists for the 2012 UK Licensing Awards have been revealed in anticipation of the awards ceremony set to take place on September 11 in London [The Great Room at The Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London, W1K 7TN].

Sponsored by LIMA and organized by The Licensing Source Book Europe, this year’s awards have seen more than 4,000 product entries judged by more than 100 retail buyers. The list of finalists [see below]...

Harry Potter Page To Screen from Titan Books
LEGO Ideas Book from Dorling Kindersley
London 2012 Official Guide to London Collection from Time Out Guides
Moshi Monsters Range from Penguin
Octonauts Book Range from Simon & Schuster
Peppa Pig Fun Phonics Collection from InspirationWorks

Gnashional Trust for The National Trust from DC Thomson
Humphrey's PJ Week for The Children's Trust Hospital from Scribbles Studio
Peppa Pig Bubbles Of Fun for E45 Junior from Eone
Go Potty For Peppa with Tommy's for Asda from Eone Roobarb
and Custard Meet the PDSA from Bulldog Licensing

Nickelodeon Australia has announced and revealed the Nickelodeon/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles News that Nickelodeon Australia and New Zealand will premiere Nickelodeon's brand new CGI-animated "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" television series on Monday 8th October 2012 at at 4.30pm, only nine days after Nickelodeon USA starts to show "Nickelodeon's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" from Saturday 29th September 2012! Nickelodeon UK has also announced plans to premiere and show Nickelodeon's brand new CGI-animated "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" TV series from Monday 1st October 2012!

ALL NEW TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES SERIES COMES TO NICKELODEON IN OCTOBER

NEWS TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES

Prepare to be shell-shocked this October when Nickelodeon debuts the all-new, CG-animated series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with a one-hour special event on Monday, October 8 at 4.30pm.

The 26-episode, half-hour action-comedy series breathes new life into the wildly popular band of reptile brothers played by Jason Biggs (American Pie) as “Leonardo,” Sean Astin (Lord of the Rings) as “Raphael,” Greg Cipes (Teen Titans) as “Michelangelo” and Rob Paulsen (Planet Sheen) as “Donatello” (Paulsen also voiced the original “Raphael” from 1987-1996 in the very first TMNT series).
Rounding out the cast in the series’ key roles are: Mae Whitman (Parenthood) as “April O’Neil,” a gutsy and independent sixteen-year-old who befriends the Turtles after they save her from an alien attack; Hoon Lee (Royal Pains) as “Master Splinter,” the Turtles’ sensei and father figure and Kevin Michael Richardson (Penguins of Madagascar) as “Shredder,” the commander of an evil ninja army called the Foot Clan and one of the deadliest martial artists in the world.

"We are thrilled to present this latest series to loyal Turtle fans and introduce the camaraderie of the four teenage brothers – Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Donatello – to new viewers," said Brown Johnson, President, Animation, Nickelodeon. “The addition of Whitman, Lee and Richardson completes our exceptionally talented group of actors lending their voices to the all-new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.”

With sneak peeks of “the mutation in progress” shown recently at Oz Comic-Con, and an impressive Turtles presence generating excitement just days ago at the original, ultimate Comic-Con event in San Diego, Gen X fans are gearing up for their nostalgic memories to resurface along with the new Turtles.

“New Zealand fans are bound to be as excited as the rest of the world when the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles finally re-emerge to entertain a whole new generation of fans,” said Ben Richardson, General Manager of Nickelodeon Australia and New Zealand.

“Nickelodeon Australia has just launched the first series of sneak peeks for the new Turtles on air, and an immersive vertical website will soon go live. We’re really looking forward to seeing the response from kids and older fans alike as we build excitement towards the October 8 show launch.

As one of the most popular character franchises of all time, Nickelodeon has planned so much more beyond the new TV show. We’re also working towards the introduction of a whole new range of consumer products next year, starting with a ‘classics’ line for original fans, and further down the track in 2014, the new Michael Bay feature film will command mainstream attention all over the world,” said Richardson.

Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles TV series begins as the turtles emerge from their hidden lair in the sewers for the very first time, ready to confront the wondrous and hostile world of New York City and face enemies more dangerous and pizza more delicious than anything they could have imagined.

Funnier and with more Ninjutsu than ever before, the show will explore the companionship of four teenage brothers learning to rely on themselves and one another as they unravel the mystery of their existence and grow to become the heroes in a half-shell that they are destined to be. The premiere episode was executive produced by Ciro Nieli, Joshua Sternin & Jeff Ventimilia and Peter Hastings.

Considered one of the most popular kids’ television programs of the 1980s, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a classic, global property created in 1984 by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. It first debuted as a successful comic book series and then became a hit animated TV show, a live-action television series and later spawned four blockbuster theatrical releases. The property also has translated into a significant consumer products business—with DVDs, video games, toys and more–that has generated billions of dollars at retail.

Nickelodeon Orders Three Pilots Including Nick At Nite Family Comedy With Tia Mowry

EXCLUSIVE:Nickelodeon has ordered three multi-camera comedy pilots. Family comedy Instant Mom, which has Tia Mowry in negotiations to star, is for nighttime channel Nick at Nite that targets adult/adolescent viewers, while the superhero-themed The Thundermans and supernatural The Haunted Hathaways are for the daytime children’s channel.

Instant Mom, from Aaron Kaplan's Kapital Entertainment, was written by Warren Bell and Jessica Butler loosely based on their real life. It centers on a 25-year-old party girl (Mowry) who trades in cosmos for carpools when she marries an older man with kids. Bell, Butler and Kaplan executive produce the project, which intends to cast an all-black family. This marks Kaplan's second pilot for Nick at Nite along with Wendell & Vinnie starring Jerry Trainor; it is 3-year-old Kapital Entertainment's 15th pilot. For Mowry — who toplines with her twin sister the Style reality series Tia & Tamera – this marks a return to scripted comedy. She recently left BET's The Game, where she co-starred for five seasons [and co-starred with her sister, Tamera Mowry, in the Nickelodeon UK show "Sister, Sister"].

The Thundermans, written by Jed Spinarn (Big Time Rush), centers on Phoebe Thunderman who just wants to be a normal teenager, but there’s a bit of a problem: she comes from a family of superheroes. And, while most superheroes are lucky to have one power, phoebe happens to have twelve.

The Haunted Hathaways, written by Robert Peacock (The Soul Man), is described as "The Brady Bunch meets Beetle Juice." It is set in New Orleans and centers on the Hathaway siblings who discover a family of other worldly beings living in their new home.

"Instant Mom" would follow Mowry (who recently a mother in real life), a 25-year-old party girl who has to change her lifestyle when she marries an older man with children. "Instant Mom" is being made for Nick at Nite and its producers intend to cast an all-African American family, according to Deadline.

Nick's two other pilots, "The Thundermans" and "The Haunted Hathaways," will be for the daytime channel. "The Thundermans" follows the life of Phoebe Thunderman who has twelve superpowers (her family members also have powers), but she just wants to have a normal life. "The Haunted Hathaways" will be a supernatural comedy with a "Brady Bunch"-like family who find that they're not the only ones in their house-- it's also occupied by other beings.

Currently, Mowry is co-starring in "Tia & Tamera" with her sister, which airs Mondays at 7 p.m. ET on E!

Tia Mowry is reportedly in talks to star in the pilot for a Nickelodean show, which could be her first acting gig since her departure from The Game earlier this year.

In May, the 31-year-old actress announced she was leaving the BET show after five years, to spend time with her husband Cory Hardrict and 11-month-old son Cree. According to Deadline.com, Tia is negotiating to star in Instant Mom, which will be aired on nighttime channel Nick at Nite and targets adult and adolescent viewers.

Tia could play the role of a 25-year-old party girl who swaps her glamourous lifestyle for a domesticated life when she marries an older man with children.

Nickelodeon and Viacom Consumer Products UK is launching a new promotion, Everyone's a Winner, with retailer Argos in conjunction with a second promotion, A SpongeBob Summer, with indie UK/Ireland toy retailer The Entertainer.

In what Argos bills as the biggest children's promotion it’s ever undertaken, the Everyone's a Winner promo, which began on July 21 and runs until January 20, 2013, sees consumers who purchase a Nickelodeon licensed product receive a code which can be entered at argos.co.uk for prize claiming.

Included in the more than 400,000 prizes are downloadable Nickelodeon activities, Nickelodeon Land admission wristbands, and a grand prize of one of three Norwegian Epic seven-night Mediterranean cruises.

Also launching on July 21 for a six-week duration at The Entertainer locations is A SpongeBob Summer, an in-store treasure hunt offering weekly prizes and an overall prize of a VIP trip to the Sea Life Centre in Brighton.

Major prize promotions are taking place with Argos and The Entertainer.

Argos is teaming up with Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products in the UK for its largest ever children's promotion.

Everyone's a Winner sees shoppers who purchase a Nickelodeon licensed product receive a code number. After entering the code at argos.co.uk, participants' prizes are revealed - ranging from downloadable Nickelodeon activities and Nickelodeon Land admission wristbands, to the top prize of one of three Norwegian Epic seven-night Mediterranean cruises.

Over 400,000 prize cards have been printed for the promotion, which runs until January 20th 2013.

Meanwhile, The Entertainer has partnered with NVCP on an in-store treasure hunt called A Spongebob Summer.

Running for six weeks from July 21st, customers are invited to find a number of coloured jellyfish and mark each location on a competition entry form.

The promotion offers weekly prizes, plus an overall prize of a VIP trip to the Sea Life Centre in Brighton.

Breaking Nickelodeon UK News! - Nickelodeon UK has announced and revealed the Nickelodeon UK/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles News that Nickelodeon UK and Ireland and Nickelodeon HD UK will premiere Nickelodeon's brand new CGI-animated "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" television series on Monday 1st October 2012, only two days after Nickelodeon USA starts to show "Nickelodeon's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" from Saturday 29th September 2012!

TURTLE POWER!

Matt has something very special to share with you all: the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles theme song...

When Nickelodeon emailed around the introduction to the new Ninja Turtles cartoon, they requested that we credit it with "Watch Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Monday 1st October on Nickelodeon www.nick.co.uk/turtles".

Using Sherlock Holmes-like detective skills, I think I may have uncovered the date that the show will debut here in the UK. That's just two days after the US date, dispelling any fears of a lengthy lag between the broadcasts. There’s no word yet on whether we'll be getting the same double bill that’s scheduled over there (a two part introduction to the series) but if we all ask Nickelodeon really nicely, I’m sure they’ll at least consider it. Let’s all smile when we ask, too. We look lovely when we smile.

It’s no secret that there are certain corners of the Den Of Geek 'offices' that are getting a bit excited about the new Ninja Turtles cartoon. We’ve endeavoured to share our excitement with you, telling you about events, interviewing some of the folks involved and showing you the trailer, in the hope that some of you might get excited too.

We're now able to present you with the introduction, including the theme song, to the new series.

So, it sounds a bit like the theme tune to the first cartoon, but it also features quite a bit of rapping. We suspect some of you didn’t much like the rapping. We would have preferred something a bit more sing-songy, to be fair. We’ll certainly be learning the lyrics to this one, though, so that we can recite it at parties and impress our friends. It does all look very nice. No grumbles there, especially as it features a tribute to the front cover of the very first Turtles comic. What a nice touch.

While we have the Ninja Turtles and rapping in the same article, some of you may expect us to include Vanilla Ice's 'Ninja Rap' here. Too easy. Here's Wrap Rap from We Wish You a Turtle Christmas. Booyakasha, indeed.

Nickelodeon UK and Ireland has announced and confirmed on the official "Nickelodeon's Fruit Shoot Skills Awards" website, Nick.co.uk/fruitshoot, on the official Nickelodeon UK website, Nick.co.uk, the Nickelodeon UK News that Nickelodeon UK will premiere and show "Nickelodeon's Fruit Shoot Skills Awards", Nickelodeon UK's brand new awards ceremony which honors children who are the top of their league in their chosen hobbies with exclusive 'Golden Skillie Awards', which were hosted by Nickelodeon UK Presenters Anna Williamson and Jamie Rickers, on Nickelodeon UK and Ireland and Nickelodeon HD UK on Thursday 23rd August 2012 at 10.00am (repeated at 11.00am on Nick UK's plus one (+1) timeshift channel, Nick Replay UK):

You can catch the show on Nickelodeon on Thursday, 23rd August at 10am.

Nickelodeon UK and Robinsons Fruit Shoot held the exclusive "Nickelodeon Fruit Shoot Skills Awards" ceremony at the prestigious ICC Birmingham on Saturday 21st July 2012, where Nickelodeon's Jamie and Anna hosted the Live Awards show where everyone's online votes at Nick.co.uk/FruitShoot will determined which nominees took home the coveted Golden Skillie Awards. At "Nickelodeon's Fruit Shoot Skills Awards" awards ceremony, a great line-up rocked the Skillies main stage with "The Voice UK" finalist Tyler James and guitar pop Band "Lawson", plus amongst those presenting Nickelodeon's coveted 'Golden Skillie Awards' were the singer songwriter Pixie Lott and dancer choreographer Kimberly Wyatt!

Plus, if you missed Nickelodeon UK's special "Nickelodeon's Fruit Shoot Skills Awards" nominees show, "Skillies Award Nominees", which Nickelodeon UK first aired on Friday 29th June 2012 and was presented by Nickelodeon's Jamie and Anna, and which features short clips of each of the nominees who were nominated to win a coveted 'Golden Skillie Award' at Nick UK's brand new awards ceremony, "Nickelodeon's Fruit Shoot Skills Awards", which aims honor children who are the top of their league in their chosen hobbies, demonstrating their special skills in a bid to win the Nickelodeon Viewers' vote, or just want to watch it again, you can find out how to watch Nickelodeon and Fruit Shoots "Skillies Award Nominees" programme, which was directed by Nickelodeon UK's Director of Original Production, David Kangas, and Nickelodeon UK producer Jimmy Hunt, and was edited by Jump Cut Editors' Charlotte Miles for Nickelodeon UK, in high quality (HQ) high-definition (HD) here on Nickelodeon TV Media.

Tune in to Nickelodeon on Thursday 23rd August at 10am for the #nickskillies!

Below are a selection of Tweets and photographs which Nickelodeon UK and Ireland Tweeted (posted) on their official Twitter profile page (@NickelodeonUK) around and during the premiere broadcast of "Nickelodeon's Fruit Shoot Skills Awards" on Friday 24th August 2012:

Less than a WEEK until the #nickskillies air in the UK (Thursday 23rd @10am) - who are you looking forward to seeing? :)

Monday, July 30, 2012

Ariana Grande dishes on summer plans: ‘I will be putting out some music’

Ariana Grande Credits: (Getty Photo)

Ariana Grande has some time off for the summer. After working hard on the Nickelodeon sitcom Victorious as Cat Valentine, the cast wrapped the nine month shoot so the entertainers can take a break. Dishing on what she plans on doing during the summer on Sunday afternoon at the Teen Choice Awards, Ariana doesn’t sound like she is taking any time off as the actress has big plans with music.

“I just covered Die In Your Arms with Justin Bieber. I love it and I will be putting it out soon on Soundcloud or something for free,” said Ariana Grande on the red carpet of the Teen Choice Awards. “I will be putting out some music, shooting a few things and I want to get my scuba diving certification. I love the ocean.”

While the Victorious actress has great ambitions for the summer, her fans really hope she takes a minute to step back and enjoy a vacation or at least take a day or two off.
Take a look at the video clip of Ariana Grande dishing on her summer plans.

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Nickelodeon UK and Ireland have announced in their latest brand new "a special preview of Fred: The Show" ECP [End Credits Promotion] teaser trailer/promo (below with transcript) that, to celebrate 'Summer on Nickelodeon', Nickelodeon UK will show the special sneak peek preview of the brand new Nickelodeon series "Fred: The Show", which is based on the adventures of Fred Figglehorn, a character created and played by internet sensation Lucas Cruikshank (who once guest starred on the Nickelodeon show "iCarly"), and follow's the crazy things which go on in Fred's daily life, on Sunday 12th August 2012 at 9.00am (repeated at 10.00am on Nick UK's plus one (+1) timeshift channel, Nick Replay UK) as part of a special morning of premieres schedule line-up, which also includes the premiere of the first episode of the brand new series of "Camp Orange UK", "Camp Orange: The Lost Kingdom" ("You'll never make it alone!") at 9.30am and a brand new episode of the action packed live action series "Power Rangers Super Samurai" at 08.30am!:

[Fred Figglehorn (Lucas Cruikshank): Guys, it's Fred!]

Get ready for the screams.

[Fred (to his Mom): MMOOOMMMMMAAAA!!!!]

A special preview of Fred: The Show, the 12th of August, only on Nickelodeon!

The fairies of the Winx Club (including Bloom!) need a song to fit their mystical personalities, so it's a good thing Victorious star Liz Gillies is around. Did you know? She's the pipes behind the show's magical theme song! And every time you tune in to watch the powerful fairies kick Trix butt, you can rock out to the title track sung by Hollywood Arts' sweetest mean girl.

But why wait to hear this rockin' tune? We're giving you a chance to listen to the theme song, "We Are Believix," right now! The real life Jade West is lending her amazing vocal chords to the Magic Dimension, so make sure you head over to the music hub and check out the song [North American visitors to Nick.com only]! Trust us, it'll be one enchanting experience.

According to the below Nickelodeon News article from the 'Nickelodeon Stars' section of the (geo-locked) official Nickelodeon USA website, Nick.com, and the 'List of How to Rock episodes' on Wikipedia, the North American singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer and actor Cee Lo Green will be guest starring in a upcoming brand new special episode of the live-action Nickelodeon television series "How to Rock" called "How to Rock Cee Lo", which Nickelodeon USA will premiere on Saturday 18th August 2012 (transmission (TX) time to be confirmed by Nickelodeon):

Cee Lo Green Guest Stars On How to Rock!

This just in...Cee Lo Green is starring in a brand new episode of How to Rock! But just what does this eppy entail? Well, there's sure to be rockin' music, loads of laughs and the normal 'Perfs versus Gravity 5' shenanigans. But in this extra-long special episode (one hour long to be exact), the HTR crew is in for a whole new bundle of adventures.

Also according to IMDb's show page for the second series of Nick UK's "Camp Orange", the tagline for "Camp Orange: The Lost Kingdom" will be "You'll never make it alone!". IMDb's "Camp Orange: The Lost Kingdom" show page also announces that Nickelodeon UK's budget to make and produce "Camp Orange: The Lost Kingdom" is estimated to be £900,000, and that "Camp Orange: The Lost Kingdom" was directed and produced by Nickelodeon UK directer and producer David Kangas, with film editing services provided by editor Alex Holden.

According to the (geo-locked) official Nickelodeon USA website, Nick.com, Nickelodeon USA have scheduled to premiere Nickelodeon's brand new CGI-animated show "Robot & Monster" on Saturday 4th August 2012 at 11/10c!

Robot and Monster: "Saturday, August 4th at 11/10c!"

The brand new series premieres Saturday, August 4th at 11/10c!

Created by Josh Sternin, Jeff Ventimilia and Dave Pressler, Nickelodeon's brand new CGI-animated series "Robot & Monster" is a buddy comedy that is set in a unique world where gangs of Howling Cyber Monkeys roam the streets at night, everybody loves bacon, and robots and monsters live side by side, but typically don't get along.

For NickALive!'s first ever Nickelodeon Poll, NickALive! is asking visitors, which brand new Nickelodeon show are you most looking forward to - "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles", "Bucket & Skinner's Epic Adventures", "Fred: The Show", "The Legend of Korra", or "How To Rock"? Let NickALive! know by voting below! You can also find out more information about each of Nickelodeon's brand new television shows by scrolling further down this NickALive! blog post.

Nickelodeon's brand new CGI-animated "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" television series is about the world famous Heroes in a Half-Shell as the turtles emerge from their hidden lair in the sewers for the very first time, ready to confront the wondrous and hostile world of New York City, USA and face enemies more dangerous and pizza more delicious than anything they could have imagined. Funnier and with more Ninjutsu than ever before, the show will explore the companionship of four teenage brothers learning to rely on themselves and one another as they unravel the mystery of their existence and grow to become the heroes in a half-shell that they are destined to be.

Nickelodeon's brand new live-action comedy show "How to Rock" follows the journey of Kacey Simon (Cymphonique Miller), a once perfect "mean girl" who falls out of favor with the "in-crowd" after she has to get glasses and braces, but discovers that hanging with a new group of friends may not be as bad as it first seemed. Season 1 of "How To Rock" will follow Kacey as she navigates through high school social circles, real and fake friendships and learning how to rock her "real" self.

Nickelodeon's brand new live-action series "Bucket & Skinner's Epic Adventures" is a North American teen sitcom that premiered on Nickelodeon USA on July 1, 2011 that follows two best friends, Bucket (played by Taylor Gray), and Skinner (portrayed by Dillon Lane), who live in the fictional California town of Pacific Bluffs, where, more often than not, the boys act quite sporadically which leads them to multiple conflicts. "Bucket & Skinner's Epic Adventures" also stars Nickelodeon Star Ashley Argota (Lulu in Nickelodeon's "True Jackson, VP." sitcom) as the character 'Kelly Peckinpaugh'.

"The Legend of Korra" takes place 70 years after the events of Avatar: The Last Airbender and follows the next Avatar after Aang – a girl named Korra (Janet Varney) who is from the Southern Water Tribe. With three of the four elements under her belt (Earth, Water and Fire), Korra seeks to master Air. Her quest leads her to Republic City, the modern “Avatar” world that is a virtual melting pot where benders and non-benders from all nations live and thrive. Korra quickly discovers that the metropolis is plagued by crime as well as a growing anti-bending revolution that threatens to rip the city apart. Under the tutelage of Aang’s son, Tenzin (J.K. Simmons), Korra begins her airbending training while dealing with the dangers at large.

Based on one of the most popular internet characters of all time, the single-camera, 11-minute "FRED: THE SHOW" episodes build on the hugely successful "Fred" movies, "Fred: The Movie" and "Fred: Night of the Living Fred", and follows the character on his latest hilarious adventures at home and in school.

According to the official Nickelodeon Australia website, to celebrate the Australian winter holidays (as Australia is in Earth's southern hemisphere (the hemisphere south of the Equator), the country has their winter season between June to August every year), Nickelodeon Australia will launch a brand new Nickelodeon Programming Stunt called "Nickelodeon At The Movies", where, every Sunday at 6pm from Sunday 19th August 2012, Nickelodeon Australia and New Zealand will show a selection of great kids' movies, including the Australian premieres of the brand new Nickelodeon Original Television Movies "Rags" and "Big Time Movie" (based on the hit Nickelodeon television series "Big Time Rush")!:

NICKELODEON AT THE MOVIES

Every Sunday at 6pm from the 19th of August, join us for a movie mix of fresh Premieres and all your Nick Flick favourites. Includes the Australian Premieres of Rags and Big Time Movie!

According to Nick Jr. UK and Ireland's new 'Brand new episodes of Tickety Toc' promo/trailer (short transcript below) which Nick Junior UK is currently broadcasting on Nick Jr. Channel and Nick Jr. 2, Nickelodeon UK and Ireland's preschool channel, Nick Jr. Channel UK and Ireland, will be premiering brand new episodes of the animated preschool show "Tickety Toc" from Monday 6th August 2012 as part of "Summer on Nick Jr.":

Nick Junior UK and Ireland's brand new show, "Tickety Toc", is about a special clock in a old clock shop called the "Tickety Toc" clock. As every hour passes, the Tic Toc Clock springs into life to chime in the time. It all happens as regular as clockwork! But chiming the time isn't as easy as it seems! For behind the face of the Tickety Toc Clock lies an extraordinary wooden world where things definitely don’t always run so smoothly. This slapstick show centres on our inseparable heroes, Tommy and Tallulah, and their remarkable friends as they race against time to keep the clock ticking. In this beautifully crafted series, the pressure is always on and every madcap minute counts!

Nickelodeon UK's brand new "Camp Orange: The Lost Kingdom" website features a "Meet The Teams" section which features information about each of the children who have been selected to be contestants on the second season of "Camp Orange UK" and their teams - the "Noisy Ninjas", an all boy team featuring Zach and Chris (also known as Christopher and Zachery, who are both 12-years-old), the "Crazy Einsteins", an all girl team featuring Zoe and Tilly, who are both 11-years-old, the "Surf Turtles", a boy/girl team featuring two 13-year-old's called Tom and Frankie, and the "Moon Waffles", a all female team featuring two girls called Hannah and Amanda-Jane, who are 13 and 14 years old - plus a "Meet The Presenters" section featuring bios about each of the presenters of "Camp Orange: The Lost Kingdom" - 'Heart of Gold' Anna Williamson, 'The Ringmaster' Jamie Rickers, and the 'Keeper of the Games', the 'Golden Girl' of British athletics, Denise Lewis!

Nick UK's brand new "Camp Orange - The Lost Kingdom" website, Nick.co.uk/shows/camporange/, also features online streaming video clips featuring short introductions to each of this years "Camp Orange" teams, a "Camp Orange Blog", which features regular "Camp Orange" updates and news from the camp, plus exclusive photographs from this years "Camp Orange" competition!

Camp Orange returns to Nickelodeon UK from Sunday 12th August 2012 at 9.30am, in association with Robinson's Fruit Shoot.

Nickelodeon's The Big Help Prosocial Campaign And First Lady Michelle Obama Team Up And Get Into The Olympic Spirit With A Special Let's Move! Event In London

NEW YORK, July 26, 2012 /Nickelodeon Press Release via PRNewswire/ -- Nickelodeon's The Big Help prosocial campaign for kids is teaming up with First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! initiative to host Let's Move! London, an event for more than 1,000 American military children and American and British students. The event, which is taking place on Friday, July 27, in London is being co-sponsored by Let's Move!, Nickelodeon's The Big Help, and the Department of State, and will include sports stations, musical performances and appearances by Olympic and Paralympic legends including members of the U.S. delegation along with David Beckham, Bart Conner, Nadia Comaneci, Teresa Edwards, Emily Hughes, Sarah Hughes, Shawn Johnson, Dikembe Mutombo, Dara Torres, members of the 2012 US Track and Field Team and Manchester United legends, among others.

"First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! initiative has been invaluable in raising awareness about the importance of kids and families living healthier and more active lifestyles," said Marva Smalls, Executive Vice President, Public Affairs, Nickelodeon Group. "We are proud to work with the initiative as we ourselves continue to spread the message of health and wellness and inspire action through our Big Help campaign."

During Let's Move! London kids will have an opportunity to get into the Olympic spirit and get active with the NBA and USA Basketball, U.S. Tennis Association, Manchester United, USA Field Hockey, USA Track and Field and Right to Play, which will all be providing activity stations. The event will also feature performances from The Wanted, Mark Ronson, Katy B., the University of Florida Gator Marching Band, the Power Rangers and specials appearances from Nickelodeon's Jeff Sutphen ["U-Pick Live", 'Pick Boy', and presenter/host of "My Family's Got Guts", "BrainSurge", "Figure It Out"], DJ J Boogie, and SpongeBob SquarePants.

This event is part of the First Lady's work to turn the inspiration of the Olympic and Paralympic Games into action by getting more kids healthy and active. In May, the First Lady joined U.S. Olympians, Paralympians and London hopefuls to announce a nationwide commitment to get more than 1.7 million American children active as part of her Let's Move! initiative to solve the problem of childhood obesity in a generation.

In March, Mrs. Obama welcomed Mrs. Samantha Cameron, wife of British Prime Minister David Cameron, to the United States by hosting a mini-Olympic event for local school children and in April, Mrs. Obama spoke at the Opening Ceremony for the 2012 Warrior Games. Mrs. Obama also invited Americans to start or join Let's Move! Olympic Fun Day Meetups on July 28th, the first day of competition in London. In cities and towns all across the country, friends, family and neighbors will come together to participate in Olympic-inspired games and activities to not just cheer on Team USA, but to live up to the example they set.

Last year, Nickelodeon teamed up with Let's Move! to celebrate its 8th annual Worldwide Day of Play, when the network once again suspended programming for three hours to encourage kids and families to get up and get active. Joined by Let's Move! and the President's Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition Nickelodeon brought its flagship Worldwide Day of Play (WWDOP) event to the Ellipse in Washington, D.C., for the biggest celebration of active play in the initiative's history. The event drew more than 50,000 kids and families, who spent the day celebrating active play.

The Big Help is Nickelodeon's prosocial commitment to engage kids to take action and make a difference in their world. The initiative allows kids to connect to their passions by participating in Big Help Actions, which are service opportunities designed to engage kids in specific real world activities that affect the world around them. The campaign focuses on issues that are important to and affect kids, including health and wellness, the environment, education, and community service.

Nickelodeon, now in its 33rd year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in more than 100 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 17 consecutive years. For more information or artwork, visit http://www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIA.B).

(CBS News) First Lady Michelle Obama is preparing to lead the presidential delegation at the kick-off of the 2012 Olympic Games Friday and, she said, this is an opportunity to encourage kids to improve their health and fitness.

"Leading our nation's delegation and traveling to London is truly a dream come true," Obama said on a conference call with reporters Monday. "Some of my fondest memories when I was young and not so young involved watching the Olympics on TV and cheering on Team USA."

Obama will lead a delegation that includes past U.S. Olympians such as Brandi Chastain, Dominique Dawes, Grant Hill and Summer Sanders.

The first lady, who has made fighting childhood obesity a priority with her "Let's Move" initiative, said the games are an opportunity to promote health and fitness.

"I decided I wanted to turn that Olympic spirit and inspiration into action by using these games as a way to get more kids up and moving."

Obama said she is excited to host a "Let's Move!" event for 1,000 American military children and American and British students Friday. The event, co-sponsored by the State Department and by Nickelodeon, will include sports stations, entertainment and appearances by Olympic and Paralympic legends.

She also declared July 28 "Let's Move! Olympic Fun Day," encouraging children and communities to cheer on Team USA and participate in athletic events across the country. At least 200 communities have signed up, and the number is expected to grow throughout the week.

While in London, in addition to her fitness campaign, Obama will also attend a reception for heads of state and hold a private meeting with Samantha Cameron, the wife of British Prime Minister David Cameron.

Deputy National Security Adviser for Strategic Communications Ben Rhodes said the trip is an important way for the first lady to continue building the special relationship between the U.S. and the U.K.

"While this visit is about the Olympics, its also about advancing the close ties between the U.S. and the United Kingdom," Rhodes said.

Obama will conclude her trip Sunday with a visit to Mildenhall Air Force Base in England to visit American military families.

Obesity is a problem much larger than all the puns frequently used to describe its epidemic. The Centers for Disease Control estimates 35.7 percent of all adults and 17 percent of all children in the United States are obese. Medical costs attributed to obesity in the US reached $147 billion in 2008. Nearly 600 million people worldwide are obese. The sobering fact is that each of these statistical feats have grown largely in the last 35 years, before which most were blips on the radar compared to other public health concerns. Having been obese until college, researched obesity, and worked in obesity policy, I was pleased to learn of the First Lady's "Let's Move!" Campaign to prevent childhood obesity when it was launched in 2010. This week, I was happy to learn that she's taking the message overseas to the London Olympics.

Mrs. Obama is leading the Presidential Delegation to the UK, where she will cheer on American Olympians, meet with the Queen and wife of Prime Minister David Cameron, and most notably, lead a "Let's Move!" event for 1,000 British and American children. Of course, there are those skeptical of her efforts, including a post on this site wary that linking the Olympics to obesity prevention will discourage children for whom the dream of becoming the world-class athletes they see on television is likely “unattainable.”

But the promise of bringing "Let's Move!" to the world's stage is not limited to getting children to mimic athletes as they watch the Olympics (as I did). The First Lady's efforts abroad go for the gold in a couple of ways.

1. Bringing Awareness to a Global Stage: Where epidemiologists are tracking the rise of obesity and its effects worldwide, the problem is largely one that is epitomized by America. Deserved or not, this is a setback. To associate obesity with America is to ignore its rise and delay its solutions elsewhere. While Michelle Obama enjoys an iconic status across the globe, it's difficult for her efforts on childhood obesity to get notice in the international press when the United States is a constant and multifaceted player in the world arena. The Olympics ally her global presence to a topical stage, a venue in which it is more than appropriate to hold discourse on obesity everywhere.

A short-term trip to London won't put an end to obesity, but it's not supposed to either. The Let's Move! component to Mrs. Obama's delegation is both emblematic of efforts thus far, and amplifying of those to come.

Correction: A previous version of this article erroneously stated that 600 billion people worldwide were obese.

Michelle Obama went from sporty to sophisticated on Saturday, starting the day with Nickelodeon's Worldwide Day of Play.

A typical Nickelodeon event, Worldwide Day of Play featured plenty of gack as well as the requisite Nick star guest appearance, this time in the form of Victoria Justice. But there was a special surprise: LeBron James! The Miami Heat star joined the First Lady to teach the kiddies about the importance of fitness.

But by night FLOTUS ditched her yoga pants and zip-up and donned a black glittering ensemble for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Annual Phoenix Awards dinner in Washington, D.C.

With her husband in black tie, Michelle wore a long sequin skirt by Michael Kors and a black tee cinched with a Peter Soronen corset belt, accessorized with chunky black bracelets and a sparkling necklace.

Just hours before the 2012 London Olympic Games commence, David Beckham and First Lady Michelle Obama teamed up with Nickelodeon for the 'Let's Move London' event at the American Ambassadors Residence, Winfield House in London, England on Friday (July 27).

The Los Angeles Galaxy soccer stud cleaned up nicely for the outing, wearing a gray suit jacket and dark slacks, while Mrs. Obama went for a more casual look in white capri pants with a color block blue tee-shirt and sparkly silver shoes.

Proving she just might be able to join the ranks of Beckham on the field, the First Lady booted a Nike soccer ball effortlessly into a nearby net and after doing a little victory dance she turned to David for a playful high-five.

The event marked Michelle's second outing for the day. Earlier she welcomed USA team members in East London while David kept busy tending to promotions as he prepares for his involvement in the Olympics opening ceremonies tonight.

Letting his hometown pride shine, Mr. Beckham told The Sun today, "I have been lucky enough to have been involved in some amazing sporting moments in my career, but nothing can compare with what is about to take place in London. . . . It gives me goosebumps just thinking about it. I know I am biased but, what the rest of the world will see, I don’t think any other country in the world could do it better."

US children's cable channel Nickelodeon has appointed the former head of Starz Animation to take control of its cartoon studio in California.

As senior VP of production at Nickelodeon Animation Studios, David Steinberg will handle operations and preside over all animation and digital projects at the studio, located in Burbank. He will report to Alison Dexter, executive VP of production for the Nickelodeon Group.

Steinberg left his role as head of Starz Animation in Toronto last year after the studio was sold to a Canadian investment group and renamed Arc Productions.

During his five years at Starz, Steinberg oversaw the animation on feature films such as Tim Burton’s 9 and Gnomeo & Juliet for Miramax Films. The veteran animation exec also spent 10 years as director of production at Disney, before leaving in 2006 to head Starz Animation.

Nick Animation Studios and Nickelodeon Group each have a new face in an SVP role with the hiring of animation industry veteran David Steinberg and the promotion of nine-year Nick veteran Jamie Drew [...] respectively.

As Nick Animation Studios' new SVP of production, Steinberg (former studio head at Toronto’s Starz Animation) will be responsible for overseeing all physical production and daily operations at the 600-person studio in Burbank, California.

Steinberg will lead all animation series production (from pilot to post) and digital initiatives as well as oversee studio operations such as legal, production planning, budgeting, staffing and artist development and relations.

During his five year-stint at Starz, he helped grow the company's reputation in visual effects and CG animation working on features including Gnomeo and Juliet and 9.

Prior to this, he held executive positions with Disney and Turner Feature Animation, and has also penned 15 children’s books published by Penguin Young Readers.

Meanwhile, Drew has been promoted to SVP of strategy and business development for Nickelodeon Group. She will be tasked with supporting senior management in the development of long-range strategies for Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite, TeenNick, Nick Jr., Nicktoons, and Nick’s consumer products, digital and recreation businesses.

She will also serve as the primary liaison to Nick parent companyViacom in analyzing mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and investment opportunities.

Drew, who joined Nick in 2003, moves into her new role from her most recent position as VP of strategy and business development, where she helped secure deals for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Winx Club, AddictingGames and Shockwave.